Thursday, November 12, 2009

The Democrats' War on Personal Responsibility

One of the most obnoxious features of the Democrats' health care agenda is the threat of jail time for those who choose not to purchase a government-approved health insurance policy. Under the Pelosi Plan, if you're self-insured, if you pay for medical care out of pocket, or if you choose to take your chances and rely on your good health — you're a criminal. Be prepared for a visit from the IRS. And if Queen Nancy gets her way, you might even end up behind bars for up to five years.

Hatch said if the federal government starts ordering Americans to purchase specific products without being able to plausibly justify that mandate through the Commerce Clause of the Constitution which empowers Congress to regulate interstate commerce, it will mean “we’ve lost our freedoms, and that means the federal government can do anything it wants to do to us.”

TAPPER: But as the Senate puts its bill — its final bill together and as a House and Senate prepare to vote on a — on a — after the conference committee, they should know, does the president think jail time is inappropriate...

Obama prefers to frame the issue as a question of personal responsibility:

I think the general broad principle is simply that people who are paying for their health insurance aren't subsidizing folks who simply choose not to until they get sick and then suddenly they expect free health insurance. That's — that's basic concept of responsibility that I think most Americans abide by.

...I think I put out the principle that penalties are appropriate for people who try to free ride the system and force others to pay for their health insurance.

Interesting. Somehow Obama managed to set aside his concern for personal responsibility when he approved the "largest one-year increase in government handouts in American history." Those who free ride the welfare system are some of the biggest winners in Obama's taxpayer-funded lottery:

[The] "stimulus" bill abolishes the limits on the amount of federal money for the so-called Emergency Fund, which ships welfare cash to states.

"Out of any money in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated such sums as are necessary for payment to the Emergency Fund," ...In other words, the only limit on welfare payments would be the Treasury itself.

A President committed to personal responsibility would be inclined to take the Federal Government out of the equation altogether, leaving individuals free to decide whether to purchase health insurance, seek help from charity, or pay for health care out of pocket.

What did we do, back during the years when most Americans had no medical insurance? I did what most people did. I depended on a “single payer” — myself. When I didn’t have the money, I paid off my medical bills in installments.

The birth of my first child was not covered by medical insurance. I paid off the bill, month by month, until the time finally came when I could tell my wife that the baby was now ours, free and clear.

In a country where everything imaginable is bought and paid for on credit, why is it suddenly a national crisis if some people cannot pay cash up front for medical treatment?

Personal responsibility is clearly not the issue at the heart of the Democrats push for health care reform. As William Jacobson notes, the Democrats' perverse health care agenda is a "once-in-a-lifetime chance for the Democrats to achieve a permanent, economically-enslaved majority."

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Pelosi: It is "Very Fair" to Jail People For Not Buying Health Insurance

I'm getting sicker and sicker by the day. The president, the liberals, and the media have all become our enemies... The enemy has not defeated us in battle. They can't. But the Ft. Hood assassinations show that we've already surrendered. There's no sense putting our troops in harm's way in the field if we won't protect them in Texas. So what the hell are we doing in Afghanistan if our own President won't support our troops!Maybe it's time to bring them home and the hell with Afghanistan, and the hell with all the rest of the. Lets not put our troops out there in harms way without support. We have already seen that Obama is a coward and a traitor. Sorry to say it but America must now brace itself for many, many more defeats to come.

Hi RightKlik:This post describes my feelings exactly. What the heck is wrong with these democRATS??All their nonsense about the HC bill, but the WORST I ever heard was the jail time and big fine if you don't take their "option". They are the ones, esp. pelouseywho should be thrown in jail for treason against the USA. I really worry about our Country more than ever the last few weeks. Thanks for posting this and all the great links.